Haiti Happenings, Part 8 - HOLY TRINITY & ST. VINCENT'S

Holy Trinity Symphony

Only blocks away from the empty palace grounds are what remain of Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Our team and others from the Haiti Connection conference toured their large temporary sanctuary and school that take up all of the usable property. Both the music school and classes continue for students. 

Holy Trinity students listening to the symphony

We were fortunate enough to arrive when Les Petite Chanteaurs (Boys Choir) and Holy Trinity Symphony Orchestra were practicing for an upcoming event. What a treat it was to enjoy their music! 

Sadly, a HUGE cathedral bell—one of the only remaining artifacts from the original cathedral—was recently stolen. How the thieves were able to move such a massive bell is unimaginable. The bells have now been walled in with cement to prevent further theft until the cathedral is rebuilt in years to come. 

The bells from Holy Trinity (photo from 2011)

Last, but certainly not least, St. Vincent’s is steadily showing signs of rebirth:

• St. Vincent’s now has its very own library which is slowly being stocked with books
• Kathy tested out the new sound-proof audiology booth that is set up in a dedicated space to serve the deaf children
• The storage room that we cleaned out and organized two years ago has been converted to a music room that will soon be shared with computer lab The Red Thread is helping to establish
• The water purification system is up and running 

Claurrician, a student at St. Vincent's operating St. Vincent's new gift shop,
and John, a friend from West Tennessee Haiti Partnership.
The shop sell's student's work, including jewelry, artwork and handbags

Journeyman working in the new brace shop

The brace shop

The brace shop shares space with the new clinic

The building will house an expanded pharmacy and multiple clinic rooms

As soon as these areas are furnished and stocked, it will be open for business,
serving St. Vincent's students, staff and the community

The new facility will house both permanent and visiting medical teams year round

Looking into a clinic room

The view from inside the clinic looking out

And, to our delight, the children are growing up! They are each a year older and happy. New faces abound as well. The school is now running at full capacity for the current space. And yet there are still children waiting to get in the doors of this very special place in the heart of Port-au-Prince.

Haiti Happenings, Part 5 - THE HAITI CONNECTION!

Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs (left)

As much as we love working with the kids at St. Vincent’s, the primary purpose for our recent trip to Haiti was to participate in the Haiti Connection, a conference hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti for all partners involved in the organization's many programs. The Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierre-Richard Casimir, and The Rt. Revd Jean Zaché Duracin were among the esteemed speakers at the 3-day event focusing on the topic of building partnerships. 

Presenters for the St. Vincent's partnership 

Of course, our interest lies in St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children. Six teams attended the conference to show their support of the rebuild of St. Vincent’s and share the work each is doing at the Center. We are humbled to be working with such wonderful organizations on behalf of the children:

• Children’s Medical Mission Board
• Children’s Medical Mission for Haiti
• Friends of St. Vincent’s
• Team Canada Healing Hands
• West Tennessee Haiti Partnership

Sonya, TRTP Vice President

We were honored to be one of the guest speakers at the conference, talking about our partnership with St. Vincent’s and our relationship with other St. Vincent’s support groups. TRTP Vice President, Sonya Yencer, spoke on our behalf, sharing our recent and current work:

• delivering a handicapped bus that seats 16 wheelchairs
• providing 100 all terrain wheelchairs 
• establishing a computer lab (estimated completion in 2013) 
• hosting 3 Camp Jake summer programs for children with disabilities

Sonya stressed the importance of building long-term relationships, not only with St. Vincent’s (our direct partner), but also with other supporters of St. Vincent’s. It has been The Red Thread’s experience that we are stronger and more efficient when we work together with other non-profits, capitalizing on the strengths of each organization. When we work for the benefit of the whole—not our individual egos—we are able to accomplish much more than ever anticipated.

We made many wonderful contacts at the convention and are excited to see the progress made as St. Vincent is re-imagined and rebuilt. We are proud to be a part of the team and so glad for your ongoing support.

Haiti Connection

The Haiti Connection conference last month was very productive. Approximately 350 people attended the 10th annual Haiti Connection conference in Miami. Clergy and interested parties representing 32 US states, Washington DC, the Caymen Islands, Jamaica, Canada and a large delegation from Haiti joined together to discuss how Episcopal, Presbyterian Churches and others can support the people and country of Haiti.

The schedule was packed and Kathy represented us well to the different groups in attendance. Much great information was shared and the Diocese's initial plan to rebuild in Haiti was laid out. Kathy was able to attend all 3 days and took special interest in the breakout sessions on healthcare and St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children.

Being the thorough note-taker that she is, she took FOURTEEN pages of notes. In an effort not to make the blog trail on for days, below is a super-summary of those notes, including some key facts regarding the devastation of the earthquake as well as the Diocese's priorities in rebuilding.

As per our mission, The Red Thread Promise will focus on supporting the children of St. Vincent's, helping to provide for their day-to-day needs, arranging medical care as necessary, bringing medical teams and supplies to the center, and partnering with others to rebuild the facility. It is our goal to restore a life of normalcy to these exceptional children.

Haiti Connection

Miami, Nov 3 – 5, 2010

FAST FACTS ABOUT CONDITIONS IN HAITI

• 1,500,000 million people in Haiti affected by earthquake
• 1,000,000 +/- people currently living in tent cities
• 250,000+ died in the quake
• Episcopal Diocese damage: $8,000,000,000 loss

31% church

50% schools

80% secondary schools

25% higher education

33% rectory/guest housing

Kesner Pharel, the first keynote speaker, spoke from the government’s point of view and outlined the country’s 4 main pillars of their efforts: territorial, economic, social and institutional rebuilding. The Haitian government has promised to turn the disaster into an opportunity to make it an emerging country by 2030. Pharel concluded with these critical thoughts:

• US and other countries should not just give money to Haiti.
• Pulling together, we need to invest in Haiti.
• Send knowledge so Haitians can help pull their own country out of poverty.

Remarks were given by The Rt Rev Jean Jacques Duracin, Bishop of Haiti, who outlined the 10 projects that the Church will focus on during the initial rebuilding efforts. Each was selected due to their Episcopal and community outreach, including:

• Holy Trinity Cathedral (HTC): A sacred place of worship and culture in Port-au-Prince, originally built to honor the first Bishop of Haiti. HTC’s school was unique in the country, hosting 4,000 students, many of which were killed in the quake
• St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children School and Medical Facility (SVC): The 65 year old center was the first school in Haiti to take care of disabled children. Located one block away from the Presidential palace, SVC serves some of the most disadvantaged children in the city—blind, deaf and mute children and other physical disabilities—with ages ranging from 5 to 16, sometimes older. SVC provides not only a home for these exceptional children, but also a school, clinic, church and extended family.
• Music school: A unique place and treasure for Haitians.
• University: A small but critical university in Haiti that is able to offer higher education that meets the financial needs of the students.
• Seminary: The oldest institution of the church in Haiti provides training for clergy and lay leaders.
• Hospital

LONG RANGE PLANS were shared covering the following topics:

• Education (Dr. Lucien Bernard)
• Long Range Health Care (Hilda Alcindor, R.N.)
• Development (The Rev. Frantz Cole)
• Financial Accountability / Communication (The Rev. P.J. Woodall)

The Rev. Sadoni Leon and The Rev. Canon Bill Squire

during the breakout session for St. Vincent's

BREAKOUT SESSION – St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children

• The Rev. Canon Bill Squire
• The Rev. Sadoni Leon, Director, St. Vincent’s Center
• Hope Lennartz, Friends of St. Vincent’s

Discussion focused on immediate needs of the Center (food, clean water, wheelchairs, crutches, blind walking sticks, brailers, school supplies, clinic supplies, ramps for wheelchairs, computers, musical instruments, etc) as well as the long-range plan to rebuild an accessible, safe facility for disabled children.

Part of the rebuilding plan for St. Vincent's